Classic Baked Ziti
Classic Baked Ziti
Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage, casings removed
- 3 garlic, cloves, minced
- 1 onion, medium, diced
- 1 bell pepper, medium, diced
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
For the Cheese Mixture
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese, whole milk
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
For Assembly and Topping
- 12 ounces ziti pasta, cooked according to package directions
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the mild Italian sausage, breaking it up with a meat chopper or spoon, and brown until cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 375
- 2
Add the minced garlic, diced onion, and diced bell pepper to the pot with the sausage. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until the vegetables are softened. Pour in the marinara sauce and undrained diced tomatoes. Stir in the Italian seasoning, dried thyme, smoked paprika, onion powder, black pepper, seasoned salt, and red pepper flakes. Mix until well combined. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for at least 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
⏱️ 20 min
- 3
While the sauce simmers, prepare the cheese mixture. In a separate large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, sour cream, 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Mix thoroughly until smooth and well combined.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Cook the ziti pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well using a colander.
⏱️ 10 min
- 5
Assemble the baked ziti in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of the dish. Add about one-third of the cooked ziti pasta, followed by another layer of meat sauce, and then dollops of about one-third of the creamy cheese mixture. Repeat these layers (ziti, meat sauce, cheese mixture) two more times until all ingredients are used, ending with a layer of meat sauce.
⏱️ 10 min
- 6
Generously cover the top of the ziti with the remaining 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Bake the covered ziti in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown.
⏱️ 40 min•🌡️ 375
- 8
Remove from the oven and let the baked ziti rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow it to set.
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Classic Baked Ziti
Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage, casings removed
- 3 garlic, cloves, minced
- 1 onion, medium, diced
- 1 bell pepper, medium, diced
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
For the Cheese Mixture
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese, whole milk
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
For Assembly and Topping
- 12 ounces ziti pasta, cooked according to package directions
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the mild Italian sausage, breaking it up with a meat chopper or spoon, and brown until cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 375 - 2
Add the minced garlic, diced onion, and diced bell pepper to the pot with the sausage. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until the vegetables are softened. Pour in the marinara sauce and undrained diced tomatoes. Stir in the Italian seasoning, dried thyme, smoked paprika, onion powder, black pepper, seasoned salt, and red pepper flakes. Mix until well combined. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for at least 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
⏱️ 20 min - 3
While the sauce simmers, prepare the cheese mixture. In a separate large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, sour cream, 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Mix thoroughly until smooth and well combined.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Cook the ziti pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well using a colander.
⏱️ 10 min - 5
Assemble the baked ziti in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of the dish. Add about one-third of the cooked ziti pasta, followed by another layer of meat sauce, and then dollops of about one-third of the creamy cheese mixture. Repeat these layers (ziti, meat sauce, cheese mixture) two more times until all ingredients are used, ending with a layer of meat sauce.
⏱️ 10 min - 6
Generously cover the top of the ziti with the remaining 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Bake the covered ziti in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown.
⏱️ 40 min•🌡️ 375 - 8
Remove from the oven and let the baked ziti rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow it to set.
⏱️ 5 min